I feel VERY strongly about supporting local and small businesses. I have been thinking about my local running store. In West Hartford, our local store is Fleet Feet. In the past, I have bought my running shoes and gear in every possible location including online, "big box" stores, and my local running store. I shop around and I usually buy my things at the most cost effective location.

Just recently, it seemed that I needed new EVERYTHING. I needed trail shoes, road shoes, compression socks, body glide, running shorts- all at the same time. For a thrifty girl that dislikes spending money, it wasn't a good thing.

The gear trips to Fleet Feet are regular for me. I always seem to need something. They carry almost everything I use. I am grateful because typically, I need it NOW.

When it comes to my shoes it gets complicated. I have very specific needs. When I bought my road shoes, it took at least an hour and multiple shoe try ons. Same thing for my trail shoes, another hour, and I am also "test running" another pair of trail shoes right now. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get this kind of service, attention, and knowledge at any of the other places we can get our shoes and gear.

My local Fleet Feet also has running groups, an athletic trainer on staff, treadmills, they support local races, and they give me a GREAT location for my Yoga for Runners class. Honestly, they do so much much more.... they truly give back to our community.

Maybe you can save a few dollars if you buy at a bigger store- at this point in time I don't even know. I trust that my the prices are fair. I am so grateful for the expertise (I'm not an easy person to fit!) and if I pay a few dollars more it is worth it.

If you haven't explored your local running resources. Please do it NOW! I can guarantee that your local running store is a wealth of knowledge. I know at my Fleet Feet I can pretty much get exactly what I need- and sometimes I learn things that I didn't even know I needed to know.